Lung diseases such as chronic obstructive lung disease and acute asthma lead to which type of acid-base disorder?

Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and acute asthma are both conditions that affect the respiratory system, leading to impaired gas exchange and difficulties in exhaling carbon dioxide (CO2). In these disorders, the lungs are unable to effectively remove CO2 from the bloodstream, which results in an accumulation of carbon dioxide. This excess CO2 reacts with water in the body to form carbonic acid, which then dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate. The increase in hydrogen ions lowers the pH of the blood, leading to respiratory acidosis.

In patients with COPD, chronic hypoventilation exacerbates the buildup of CO2 over time, resulting in a more sustained respiratory acidosis. In acute asthma, during an asthma attack, compromised airflow can lead to similar CO2 retention, also causing acute respiratory acidosis. Therefore, understanding these mechanisms demonstrates that lung diseases like COPD and asthma commonly lead to respiratory acidosis due to inadequate ventilation contributing to increased carbon dioxide levels in the blood.